The vibrant energy of the wharf and the delicious memory of Jueyun Chili Chicken still buzzed in Ren's mind the next morning. The world outside the garden walls was vast and exciting, a storybook come to life. He was eager to see more, to learn more. Xianyun, ever attuned to his moods, seemed to sense his burgeoning curiosity.
"The Harbor is more than its markets and its food, Ren," she stated as they finished their simple breakfast. "Its soul resides in its history and its leadership. Today, we will visit Yujing Terrace again. There is another old friend this one would have you meet."
Yujing Terrace in the bright morning light was even more breathtaking. The grand pavilions seemed to glow with a soft, golden light, and the air was still and serene, a stark contrast to the lively chaos of the lower city. The sweet fragrance of Glaze Lilies was stronger here, a perfume that seemed to be woven into the very stones. Ren walked beside his Master, his hand in hers, his eyes wide as he took in the panoramic view of the harbor below.
Xianyun did not lead him to the Yuehai Pavilion this time. Instead, she guided him to a quieter part of the terrace, a secluded glade where a large, ancient-looking tree provided a pool of cool shade. Beneath the tree, by a small stone table, sat a diminutive old woman. She was hunched over slightly, her hair a silver-white, her face a roadmap of wrinkles. She was carefully tending to a small, unassuming teapot, the kind one might find in any Liyue home. This was Madam Ping, the Streetward Rambler.
As they approached, she looked up, and a warm, knowing smile spread across her face, deepening the canyons of kindness around her eyes.
"Cloud Retainer," she said, her voice raspy with age but clear as a bell. "Or should I say Xianyun, now? It has been a long time since you sought me out in your mortal form. And who is this little sprout you've brought with you?"
Her gaze, ancient and impossibly wise, settled on Ren. It was not the probing gaze of Moon Carver or the sharp, assessing stare of Mountain Shaper. It was a gaze of gentle, immediate acceptance, as if she had been expecting him all along.
"Madam Ping," Xianyun greeted her with a respectful nod. "This is Ren. He is… a new addition to my household."
Ren, remembering his manners, gave the old woman a polite bow. "It's an honor to meet you, Madam."
Madam Ping chuckled, a dry, rustling sound like autumn leaves. "Oh, such a polite one. And such pretty eyes. They hold a light that is both young and quite mature. Come, sit with an old woman. Let me look at you."
She patted the stone stool beside her. Ren glanced at Xianyun, who gave him a reassuring nod. He sat down, his small legs dangling far above the ground. Madam Ping poured a small cup of tea and pushed it towards him. It smelled of fragrant herbs and sunshine.
"So, Cloud Retainer has finally taken on another fledgling," Madam Ping mused, her eyes twinkling as she looked at Xianyun. "You were always so particular. All gears and calculations, even as a young adeptus. I remember when you tried to build that contraption to automate the polishing of Rex Lapis's ceremonial spears. Caused quite the ruckus when it polished one of them down to a needle."
Xianyun's elegant composure cracked for a fraction of a second. A faint pink blush appeared on her high cheekbones. "That was an unfortunate miscalculation of abrasive coefficients," she stated, her tone a little too formal. "A prototype. The final version would have been flawless."
Madam Ping just laughed, a warm, genuine sound. Ren took a sip of the tea and blinked in surprise. It tasted wonderful, sweet and calming. He looked at his Master, who was studiously avoiding his gaze, and a small, secret smile touched his lips. He was getting to hear embarrassing stories about his all-powerful adeptal master. It was the most normal, family-like thing he had experienced yet.
"Don't you mind her, little Ren," Madam Ping said, patting his hand. "Your Master has a heart as vast and kind as the sky, even if she wraps it in a shell of logic and steel. She reminds me a bit of an old friend, Guizhong. She, too, loved gadgets and inventions. But her passion was for the people. She loved mortals dearly, loved their fleeting, brilliant lives."
The mood shifted, the teasing fondness replaced by a gentle, wistful melancholy. Ren listened, captivated, as Madam Ping spoke of the God of Dust. She painted a picture of a kind, brilliant goddess who dreamed of a world where wisdom was shared by all, and who found joy in the smallest, most human of things. Listening to her, Ren felt the history of Liyue settle around him, just like a collection of living, breathing memories filled with love and loss.
"She would have adored you," Madam Ping finished softly, her gaze resting on Ren. "A child who fell from the sky, full of wonders."
She then seemed to shake off the sad memories, her bright smile returning. "But enough of ancient history! My own disciples keep me young. You must have already met Xiangling, I suppose? A whirlwind of culinary chaos, that one, but her heart is as good as her cooking. Then there's Yanfei, a brilliant child with a mind as sharp as a legal document. And little Yao Yao, who dotes on everyone she meets. You must meet them all someday."
They stayed and talked for what felt like hours, the sun climbing high into the sky. Ren felt a deep, comforting peace in Madam Ping's presence. She was like the living embodiment of Liyue's long, gentle history. When it was finally time to leave, she pressed a small, smooth, bell-shaped object into his hand. It was a small replica of the Cleansing Bell.
"A little trinket," she said. "To ward off bad dreams. You just hold onto it, little one."
As they walked back towards Feiyun Slope, Ren felt a new sense of belonging. He had met the guardians of the mountains and now the grandmother of the Harbor. His world was expanding, and his roots in this new life were growing deeper.
That evening, Ganyu arrived looking unusually determined. The usual pile of snacks she brought was present, but there was a different energy about her. She waited until Xianyun had joined them in the main room before she made her announcement.
"Master, Ren," she began, taking a deep breath and clutching a scroll of official-looking parchment in her hands. "I have made a decision. I have… finalized the paperwork to relinquish my small flat here on Yujing Terrace."
Xianyun raised an eyebrow. "Oh? That seems like a rash decision. Where will you stay when your duties require you to remain in the Harbor?"
A brilliant, hopeful smile lit up Ganyu's face. "Here," she said, her voice trembling slightly with emotion. She unrolled the scroll on the table. It was a deed of ownership. "I used my savings to purchase this house. It's… it's mine now. Ours. I was hoping… that you would both stay here with me. Permanently."
The request hung in the air, filled with a desperate, vulnerable hope. She didn't want to be a visitor in their life; she wanted to build a life with them. She wanted to come home not to an empty room like she usually did, but to her family.
Ren looked from Ganyu's pleading face to his Master. He felt his heart ache for his big sister. He knew what it was like to be lonely, to long for a place to truly belong.
Xianyun was silent for a long, contemplative moment. She looked at the deed, at Ganyu's shining eyes, and at Ren, who was watching her with an expression of quiet hope.
"Ganyu," she said finally, her voice gentle but firm. "This one is an adeptus. My home, my duty, is to the mountains. Mt. Aocang is where I belong, and that will not change."
Ganyu's face fell, her hopeful smile faltering. But Xianyun hadn't finished.
"However," she continued, her gaze softening as she looked at Ren. "Ren is human. While he is my disciple and will always have a home on my mountain, it is right and proper that he also has a home among his own kind. A place where he can learn and grow in the world of mortals."
She turned her gaze back to Ganyu, a rare, genuine smile gracing her lips. "You have done a good thing. This house will not be our permanent residence, but it will be Ren's home in Liyue Harbor. Mt. Aocang and this house on Feiyun Slope—he will have two homes. And you, Ganyu, will have a good reason to maintain it. A home must be kept ready for when its family returns."
The relief that washed over Ganyu was so profound it was almost a physical force. It wasn't the exact outcome she had dreamed of, but it was something better. It was a promise. Her Master had given her a purpose, a duty born of love for a little brother. This wasn't just a house she had bought; it was a home she would keep. A sanctuary that would always be waiting for Ren.
She rushed forward and pulled Ren into another of her signature, breath-constricting hugs. "Did you hear that, Ren?" she whispered, her voice thick with happy tears. "You have a home here! Always!"
Squished against his sister's chest, Ren smiled. A mountain peak in a sea of clouds, and a house in a sea of people. He had two homes. For a boy who had once had none, it was more than he could have ever dreamed of.